The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-02-09

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the Judge represents is the result of the
interview:
Reporter-Judge, the Times-Democrat
congratulates you upon your success in
Rapides Parish and trusts that the resi-
dents of Catahoula, Franklin, Richland
aid West Carroll will meet you in the
same spirit that Alexandria and Pineville
greeted you. Do you leave Natchez to-
day, as intendeds
Judge Hoyt-Yes; Col. Bryan, one of
the Vice-P Presidents of the Louisiana, Ar
kansas and Missouri Railroad Company,
and / start for Trinity to-day, as we are
engaged to speak at meetings to be held
by the residents of Catalonia, in Trinity,
ON Friday, and in Harrisonburg Oh Satur-
day Of this week.
Reporter-What are your future plans
regarding your projects
Judge Hoyt-Saturday afternoon Col.
Bryan and will proceed to his planta-
ton in Franklin Parish, remaining there
day or two. Tuesday we shall proceed
to Winnsboro and address the people of
Franklin on the assistance this Company
seeks to have them grant. Wednesday
we shall 60 to Delhi, stopping at various
points between Winnsboro and Delhi to
explain our requests and the advantages
to accrue to the people BY their comply
ing Herewith. At Delhi we shall hold a
meeting and probably go to Rayville for
a similar purpose; then returning to
Delhi, we shall go to Floyd, in West Car
roll Parish, and talk to the people there.
Reporter-What are the requests you
speak off
Judge Hoyt-The Company asks the
right of way through the several Parish
es; donations of land, large quantities Of
which have already been promised us. In
fact, you see from this letter Showing let
ter of prominent citizen of West Carroll)
that West Carroll alone promises to give
us $4,000 acres of land and q five mill tax
for ten years, all of which believe I will
obtain when the people Of those Parishes
have been visited.
Reportcr-Suppose these Parishes refuse
your requests, will the road be construct
ed, OF is the granting of them condition
precedenta
Judge Hoyt-On that point I will say
this: The syndicate which represent are
large capitalists Of New York City, album
dainty able to build this road of their own
means. VIXEN first brought to their at
tention the peculiar advantages of a line
through Arkansas into Louisiana, they,
! without my knowledge, sent two we'll
qualified civil engineers into this country
to spy out the land and report" These
engineers, in October and November last,
quietly came down the line then sugges-
ted-that was from Pine Bluff through
the Southern part of Arkansas into Lou
isiana. Of course, travelling as they did
continually, making inquiries as to the
character and amount of business done in
the various Counties and Parishes through
which they rode, it was not long before
their mission became known. The people
whom they met everywhere told them
that the various Parishes proposed to be
traversed by the Fort Scott road, when
their route was definitely located, had yo-
ted or would vote five mill tax, and had
given OF would give right of way across
the Parishes, and that our road, if they
asked for it, would also receive five mill
tax, the right of way and donation of
100000 or 10000 acres of land. You can
see for yourself this is the report made to
Col. A. W.Loper, of New York City, who,
with Samuel NJ. Dodds, of St. Louis, is
the head of the syndicate, by Mr.. w. C.
Agnew, one Of the engineers who made
the trip. Now, I am here to see if the
people who made those promises are ready
to carry them out; if so, the line will
be constructed exactly as laid down or
this map.
Reporter-But suppose the people o
Franklin, who will be benefited by thu
Fort Scott road, should decline to yot'
the tax because of that benefit, would yol
still keep to the adapted lines
Judge Hoyt-I cannot think that tn
people of that Parish will refuse us thei
vote. The projectors of this road, as vel
as of the Fort Scott road, all reside il
that same Parish, and they cannot nov
fail to give that support and encourage
ment to their offspring which the laws Q
nature demand. Winnsboro, as yo1
know, is the Parish seat of Franklin
Well, one day in 1881, Col. C. A. Bryan
Judge Carey j. Ellis, Hon. Duncan Bui
and many other residents of Frankli
Parish met to discuss the difficulty attend
ing the proper transaction of business i
that remote region. The nearest railroa
was thirty miles distant. Natchez wa
u forty miles off, and all their business ha
I to be transacted VIXEN the waters of tn
Ouachita, Bayou Macon and Tensas river
+ were high. At other times. what wit
bad roads, long hauls and large sums Q,
lpended for those hauls, business was a
most at a standstill, and the little carrie
ION was discouraging. It was then tlls